By Brady Kennedy
The Marmot three-season Limestone 4P is your go-to for a tent that’s roomy, comfortable, and protects you from the elements, rain or shine. With a quick and easy set-up, multiple storage features, and ample space to stash all of your gear, it’s easy to feel like the folks at Marmot really thought of everything.
The Limestone 4P served as my home away from home at the Gone Creek Campground bordering Timothy Lake in northern Oregon. The first thing I noticed about the Limestone was that the set-up was incredibly easy. In the past I’ve had to look at pitch instructions for other tents over and over again, trying to figure out their Rube Goldberg-esque contraptions holding everything together while matching a complex color-coding system designed entirely to confuse and frustrate campers. I’m happy to say that this was not the case with this tent, and from minute one of set-up, my usual tent-pitching doubts of “is this right?” were no where to be found.
The Limestone uses a simple, yet strong configuration of two main poles for the base of the tent, paired with two poles extending along the top of the tent to provide a taut and strong structure. The poles themselves are composed of DAC DA17, a lightweight, aluminum that is known for its bend and strength. The two longest poles running from side to side of the tent effortlessly slid into their respective sleeves and secured tightly with clips down to the ground. The two top poles were even easier to set-up, with just two pockets and a clip holding them in place.
Once the tent was erected, we appreciated how generously spacious the interior was. At 60” high, the ceiling vaults up into a level space where one can stand in multiple spots, as opposed to just within the center highest point, like other tents. This feature was openly welcomed by my camping companion who stands at 6’1.”
A large “D-shaped” door provided wide access to the tent. My tall companion was able to pass through the door easily, with just a slight crouch to enter into the tent. I, however, appreciated the strong snag-proof zippers lining the doorway. Having camped in far too many cheap tents, I’ve found that zippers and I usually do not get along. However, these zippers never snagged and opened smoothly from floor to ceiling.
The heavy-weight oxford canopy floor measures in with a generous 60 sq. ft of floor space. Although just two of us stayed in the tent, there was enough room for both of our sleeping bags and some large, bulky luggage, with a wide open floor space in between. I was able to freely toss outerwear, books, and flashlights when I no longer needed them in the luggage side of the tent, without having to worry about making a mess of the sleeping area.
The storage caddies that secured along either side of the doorway were incredibly useful for stowing my toiletries and extraneous products that a self-admitted over-packer can’t seem to leave behind. With three pockets for each caddy, I found a place for all of my necessities, even down to the tiniest pocket at the bottom for which I stored my toothbrush and toothpaste.
Another feature that provided more storage area was the rain fly. Perhaps one of the most unique features of this tent is that the fly zips all the way down to the ground, providing an extra area of shelter before entering the tent. This vestibule space proved useful for storing wet, muddy tennis shoes outside of the tent. Not only did the tent stay clean inside, our shoes were dry in the morning despite the rain that had lasted throughout the night.
The tent comes with a footprint that lines up nicely with the vestibule area once the fly is secured to the ground. I used this space to put on my tennis shoes without having to bring my feet inside the tent or put my socks on the dirt outside.
The rain fly really came in handy during the light rain showers we experienced during our trip. Having grown up in California, all of my summer camping trips were spent in the sunshine, without a drop of rain (something I now take for granted.) However, living in Oregon you quickly learn to come to terms with the inevitable flash rainstorm. As predicted, our weekend trip was met with evening rain that lingered into early morning.
The rain fly, made of thick 100% Polyester Ripstop material, provided a waterproof barrier at night and shade when we visited the tent during the day. The fly material is coated, UV-resistant and seam-sealed so that it will last for many camping trips to come. However, the aspect I most appreciated was that the fly managed to keep the inside of the tent completely dry during the storm.
In addition to the fly, the overall structure of the tent managed to ventilate the sticky and humid atmosphere that typically lingers after a summer shower. The multiple fly vents and mesh along the ceiling and walls provided passageways for air to freely circulate throughout the tent. A true testament to this, the hoody I had carelessly left out while sleeping was just as dry as when I took it off before going to bed. Having only brought one hoody, this meant that my morning was off to a great start.
The take down of the tent was a breeze. Even with my haphazard folding and rolling, I was able to slide the entire tent into the stuff sack without having to cram it in. The tent packs up nicely and is compact enough to store in small places.
The Marmot Limestone 4P met all of my camping needs and then some. With everything from storage and space, to shelter from the outdoors, down to the effectiveness of the zippers and quick set-up, this tent covers all the bases. The Marmot Limestone 4P ensures that your next camping trip will provide you the peace of mind and luxury you deserve for years to come.
Product Features:
- Door Mat and Hanging Organizer Included
- Full Coverage Fly
- Heavyweight Oxford 150 Denier Floor
- One D Shaped Door, One Vestibule
- DAC DA17 Poles
- Fully Taped Fly and Canopy Floor
- Multiple Fly Vents for Moisture Dissipation – Fly Vents
- Reflective Guy Out Points
- Window Weld™ – Waterproof Window Construction Reduces Weight and Enhances Appearance
Product Specs:
- Colors: Hatch/Dark Cedar (4260), Pale Pumpkin/Terra Cotta (9198)
Maximum Weight: 11 lbs 12 oz / 5.3 kg
Minimum Weight: 10 lbs 15 oz / 5 kg
Dimensions: 60x86x100in / 150x218x254cm
Packed Size: 10 x 27.5 in / 26 x 70 cm
Vestibule Area: 18.45 sq ft / 1.7 sq m
Tent Poles: 4 / DAC DA17 12mm
Floor Area: 60 sq ft / 5.6 sq m
Tent floor Material: 150d 100% Nylon Oxford, 3000mm, W/R, F/R
Tent canopy Material: 40d 100% Polyester No-See-Um Mesh F/R
Tent canopy Material: 70d 100% Polyester Taffeta F/R
Tent fly Material: 68d 100% Polyester Ripstop 1800mm, W/R, F/R
Sidewall Material: 75d Polyester Taffeta 190T 2000PU
MSRP $339.00
My husband and I are considering purchasing this tent for our next camping trip. Is it large enough to fit a queen size air mattress? Would we have to climb over each other when we have to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom?
Thanks,
Valerie